Airframes Unlimited SS-2 Trainer
{{Short description|American powered parachute}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name= SS-2 Trainer | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Powered parachute | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Airframes Unlimited | designer= | first flight= | introduced=2003 | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=At least 8 | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Airframes Unlimited SS-2 Trainer is an American powered parachute that was designed and produced by Airframes Unlimited of Athens, Texas for the training role. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 86. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
The SS-2 Trainer was introduced in 2003 and production had ended by the time the company went out of business in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.airframesunlimited.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517010211/http://airframesunlimited.com/|archive-date=17 May 2014|title=Airframes Unlimited|accessdate=11 August 2015|url-status=dead}}
Design and development
The SS-2 Trainer was designed to comply with the US Experimental - Amateur-built aircraft rules. It features a parachute-style wing, two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration, tricycle landing gear and a single {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 582 engine in pusher configuration. The {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 503 engine was optional, as was a single seat configuration.
The aircraft carriage is built from welded 4130 steel tubing. In flight steering is accomplished via foot pedals that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The main landing gear incorporates spring rod suspension.
The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|375|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|827|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|452|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|10|u.s.gal}} the payload for crew and baggage is {{convert|392|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.
Operational history
In August 2015 eight examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=SS-2&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 26 August 2015|last = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 26 August 2015}}
Specifications (SS-2 Trainer)
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|capacity=one passenger
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|empty weight kg=170
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|gross weight kg=375
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|fuel capacity={{convert|10|u.s.gal}}
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|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Rotax 582
|eng1 type=twin cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled aircraft engine
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|eng1 hp=64
|prop blade number=4
|prop name=ground adjustable, composite
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.airframesunlimited.com/ Company website archives] on Archive.org
{{Airframes Unlimited aircraft}}
Category:2000s United States sport aircraft
Category:2000s United States ultralight aircraft